The benefits of discipline ... even giving up chocolate

In a recent discussion with a fellow chocolate lover, the topic of our shared addiction eventually melded into a conversation about Lent. We talked about giving up chocolate for Lent, concurring on how the sacrifice of this beloved delicacy has become so much more for us as our faith has matured. 

Basically, giving up chocolate has become more than simply “giving up chocolate.” Sacrificing something decadent, unnecessary, and pleasure-filled helps us develop discipline.

Discipline, according to author, Dr. MaryRuth Hackett, “… has three distinct but interrelated meanings. It can mean corrective behaviour, but it can also mean a training practice, or a branch of knowledge” (“Living in Endurance,” Blessed is She, Feb. 3, 2021). 

Giving up a favourite food could be criticized as something that will not lead to spiritual growth. This could be true if one merely looks at the gesture as tangibly “corrective behaviour.”

I have heard people express their hopes of shedding a few pounds to the credit of Lent. Weight loss is not the type of goal or discipline we must seek during Lent, as it seems more like exercising willpower than truly sacrificing to grow closer to Christ.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with eating chocolate, if giving it up feels like a small sacrifice to one who enjoys it as a guilty pleasure, then discipline can become a spiritually “corrective behaviour” resulting in growth. 

As a “training practice,” giving up chocolate can prepare us for something greater. Avoiding chocolate does not mean that I am not thinking about it! In denying myself something I enjoy and in overcoming my temptation to indulge, I remind myself – in a small way – of the enormous sacrifice Jesus made for me.

This is not some sort of challenge to be rewarded in this lifetime; the shirking of chocolate is “training” for the ultimate end-goal of eternal life. As a Lenten sacrifice, it can “train” me with a reminder to pray for someone with less, to give the money I would have spent on chocolate to someone in need, and to strive to live in gratitude for Christ’s gift of salvation. 

Finally, discipline is a “branch of knowledge.” Making a Lenten sacrifice might seem like a punitive Catholic tradition; however, if approached with the right mindset and openness of heart, it can teach us many things about ourselves, our world, and our faith. I could take the opportunity to learn about the treatment of people in countries where cacao beans are grown to make responsible choices when shopping. If giving up a bit of chocolate prompts me to think a little harder and strive to learn something as a result, then the sacrifice is far from an insignificant gesture. 

The three facets of discipline can likewise be used to interpret the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays. In terms of a “branch of knowledge,” it is important to recognize that the idea of sacrificing meat on Fridays stems from the fact that meat was once considered more of an expensive luxury than fish. Giving up something of value and sustenance on Fridays was intended to remind people of Christ’s sacrifice (on Good Friday) and the sustenance of eternal life provided by this gift. 

If one is a vegetarian or does not care for meat, the act of abstaining from meat on a Friday may be neither a sacrifice nor an avenue toward spiritual discipline. In these cases, giving up tofu (or maybe even chocolate!) would provide the appropriate form of action. 

I, for one, need discipline in all its form to further develop my relationship with God. The human body is intimately connected to the soul; therefore, a small hunger pang or craving can draw my mind and heart to God in prayer and action, if I allow it to. What areas in my life do I need to “correct?” What form of prayer, almsgiving or service am I called upon to “practice” at this time? What “knowledge” about myself is God revealing to me, as I attempt to master the minor physical inconveniences of Lenten sacrifices?

Lent is a journey, not a to-do list. May we engage in different forms of discipline as we deepen our personal relationships with Christ who died to save us.